An Unexpected PWE: Everyone's Dream

I recently received a PWE from Brendan, better known as Elliptical Man over at A View from the Third Floor. When I saw the envelope, I didn't think I had won a recent giveaway or anything, so I was intrigued. So, what was inside? It didn't take me long to see they were all candidates for my Frankenset, but if there was any doubt, Brendan included a little checklist guide to what he sent.

Eighteen cards in total made their way from beautiful San Diego to the less picturesque Fargo in a 70 cent envelope. Some were cards I already had in my Frankenset, but some were new to me, so I will need to see if they might find a home in the set. 

Dave Stewart the cameraman. Chuck Finley hugging a runner. The Gary Pettis is a great find. He missed the bunt! Hadn't noticed this one before. Some great glasses/sunglasses shots, too. Do you know the guy in the middle? Scroll down for the answer. And Steve Carlton with the White Sox? Just doesn't look right.

Chris Bosio signing some autos. Why is 40-something Carlton Fisk bunting? Tim Raines bunting - makes more sense. Pitcher running the bases. Two legendary nicknames. Love a good bubble gum card. And then you have the Rollie Fingers mustache battling the Justin Turner beard (sorry it's sideways). 

I appreciate Brendan going through my list and finding some awesome cards to fit my Frankenset categories. He's a loyal reader of the blog, too, so I owe him a double thanks! 

The man in the middle on page one was the one and only Jay Buhner. If you got it wrong, you owe me one Ken Phelps card.

Bo Knows Frankensets

As I've alluded to in recent posts, I am very close to completing my Frankenset. Being in the final stages, I've identified my final steps toward completion.

1) Wait for my recently acquired smelly cards to de-stinkify so I can go through the ones I set aside as Frankenset candidates. Hoping I don't have to wait more than another week. I might have to do a fresh batch of baking soda in each box. Stay tuned.

2) File some of my recent acquisitions in their respective slots. (More on this in a moment.)

3) Compile a listing of the cards in Excel (this is mostly complete).

4) Fill in the blank slots with checklist cards (this will probably take the longest of any of the steps). If anyone has created a custom checklist before, I would appreciate tips in the comments below.

After I complete the set, I'll have to decide how to unveil it. I have been posting just my top three cards from each page a page at a time for a few months now, but might go back to the beginning and show each page card by card. Or I might pick a random page to show each time. We'll see. 

I've made great strides in the last couple months on the Frankenset due in large part to Card Barrel, which has a fantastic supply of inexpensive cards from random sets and years for me to choose from. Those people are undoubtedly puzzled each time I place an order, wondering why in the world I would choose the cards I do. 

Sometimes, there are some great Frankenset candidates in the vintage era, and that's where I've sought out other help. Specifically, Bo from Baseball Cards Come to Life and I recently swung a trade for some mostly vintage cards that I would have had to pay way too much for on Card Barrel. Instead, I was able to take advantage of Bo's extensive trade list to nab some great cards for my final push. Behold the beauty:

1976 Topps #639, Fred Kendall; 1981 Topps #541, Steve Swisher

Leading off with a couple "lesser knowns." Both men had more famous sons become major leaguers, Jason and Nick respectively. Bonus points for the Swisher beard. 

1976 Topps #363 Dave Collins; 1972 Topps #284 Ike Brown; 1979 Topps #31 Tom House 

Some solid 70s glasses with some notable facial hair sprinkled in.

1974 Topps #382 Bob Moose

This card checks so many Frankenset boxes. Hair, mustache, facial expression, name. Phenomenal.

1994 Pinnacle #490, Chris Sabo

In a Frankenset where "glasses" is a category, it would be a crime to exclude Chris Sabo's goggles. Bonus points for appearing with the Orioles, for whom he played only 68 games.

1973 Topps #483, Dal Maxvill

A guy named "Dal." I had no idea what that was short for, and I didn't even have to go to baseball-reference.com for assistance. The back of the card has his full name: Charles Dallan Maxvill.

1973 Topps #530 Jim Kaat

An AL pitcher at the plate in a set from the year the DH debuted. Unbeatable. 

So there are nine more fantastic cards for the Frankenset. Bo is a pleasure to trade with and he makes it even easier with his trade list and want lists. Thanks Bo!

Some Guys You Might Know: Donruss Names Series Finale

Welcome to the final part of the Donruss Names Series, where we look at some of the more interesting names on the back of Donruss baseball cards. This series takes advantage of the fact that from 1981 to 1992, Donruss printed the players full legal name on the back of their cards. If you're new to this series of posts or just want to reminisce, here's what we've covered so far:

Part 1: Famous players who went by their middle name

Part 2: Players who you thought had a nickname, but their nickname was their real name

Part 3: Players with a unique first name (Part 1)

Part 4: Players with a unique first name (Part 2)

Part 5: Players with a unique middle name

Part 6: Players who went by a nickname (Part 1 - 70s/80s)

All of the previous posts in the Donruss Names Series can be accessed by clicking here.

The final installment of the series today will feature players from the 80s/90s era who went by a nickname. I'm using a quiz format again to spice things up a bit, but if you want to skip ahead to the answers, feel free. The questions and answers are repeated below along with the cards that show the info. 

Let's dive in!

1) Which three-time all-star slugger had the given first/middle name Charles Theodore?
A) Cecil Fielder

B) Chili Davis

C) Danny Tartabull

D) Chet Lemon

2) Which pitcher who spent 13 years as a starter and reliever in the American League (and only played part of one season in the National League), had the given first/middle name George Earl?

A) Storm Davis

B) Goose Gossage

C) Turk Wendell

D) Tug McGraw

3) Which speedy one-time all-star had the given first/middle name Leon Joseph?

A) Otis Nixon

B) Willie Wilson

C) Bip Roberts

D) Mickey Rivers

4) Which long-time reliever had the given first/middle name Richard Michael?

A) Rollie Fingers

B) Goose Gossage

C) Willie Hernandez

D) Sparky Lyle

5) Which athletic outfielder had the given first/middle name Vincent Edward?

A) Kenny Lofton

B) Lonnie Smith

C) Bo Jackson

D) Barry Bonds

6) Which future manager had the given first/middle name Harry Ralston?

A) Bud Black

B) Torey Lovullo

C) Terry Francona

D) Dusty Baker

7) Which star shortstop had the given first/middle name Osborne Earl?

A) Ozzie Guillen

B) Ozzie Canseco

C) Ozzie Virgil

D) Ozzie Smith



Ok, let's see how you did!

1) Which three-time all-star slugger had the given first/middle name Charles Theodore?
A) Cecil Fielder

B) Chili Davis

C) Danny Tartabull

D) Chet Lemon

Chili got his nickname after a particularly bad haircut as a child. Other kids made fun of the haircut by saying it looked like someone had put a chili bowl over his head to cut around.

2) Which pitcher who spent 13 years as a starter and reliever in the American League (and only played part of one season in the National League), had the given first/middle name George Earl?

A) Storm Davis

B) Goose Gossage

C) Turk Wendell

D) Tug McGraw

Storm apparently got his nickname from a book his mother read while pregnant with him.

3) Which speedy one-time all-star had the given first/middle name Leon Joseph?

A) Otis Nixon

B) Willie Wilson

C) Bip Roberts

D) Mickey Rivers

Bip got his nickname from pronouncing certain words incorrectly during childhood, such as "bip" instead of "bit."

4) Which long-time reliever had the given first/middle name Richard Michael?

A) Rollie Fingers

B) Goose Gossage

C) Willie Hernandez

D) Sparky Lyle

A friend thought Rich looked like a goose when he looked in to read the signs from the catcher.

5) Which athletic outfielder had the given first/middle name Vincent Edward?

A) Kenny Lofton

B) Lonnie Smith

C) Bo Jackson

D) Barry Bonds

Bo was short for "boar hog," which Vincent was compared to as a child due to his penchant for getting into trouble.

6) Which future manager had the given first/middle name Harry Ralston?

A) Bud Black

B) Torey Lovullo

C) Terry Francona

D) Dusty Baker

Harry's sister started calling him Bud after the son in the 1950s sitcom Father Knows Best.

7) Which star shortstop had the given first/middle name Osborne Earl?

A) Ozzie Guillen

B) Ozzie Canseco

C) Ozzie Virgil

D) Ozzie Smith

Thanks for reading the final installment of the Donruss Names Series. As a thank you, I'm happy to announce you've stumbled into a "Pick 3" giveaway! 

Anyway, this giveaway is simple. There are three sets of players. Pick one player from each of the groups of names. Enter your names in the comments below. The first 6 people that comment will win and receive a PWE of cards of those three players. I'll try to include some interesting cards if I have them. Also, in the comments, if you want cards of that player from a particular team, you can say so, and I will try to accommodate. No doubling up on names. Once a player is taken by someone, you need to pick someone else in the group.

In subsequent giveaways, players chosen in the previous giveaways will not be available to choose again until some unknown date in the future. (Names with strikethrough below are not available.)

If you win, please provide your name and address via email by accessing my Blogger profile. If I've traded with you or have sent you cards before, you can skip this step. 

Remember, pick one player from each group!

HOF - Group 1

Roberto	Alomar		Whitey	Herzog		Cal	Ripken Jr.
Sparky	Anderson		Trevor	Hoffman		Ivan	Rodriguez
Jeff	Bagwell		Reggie	Jackson		Pete	Rose
Harold	Baines		Randy	Johnson		Babe	Ruth
Craig	Biggio		Chipper	Jones		Nolan	Ryan
Bert	Blyleven		Barry	Larkin		Mike	Schmidt
Wade	Boggs		Tony	LaRussa		Tom	Seaver
George	Brett		Tommy	Lasorda		Lee	Smith
Steve	Carlton		Greg	Maddux		Ozzie	Smith
Gary	Carter		Edgar	Martinez		John	Smoltz
Andre	Dawson		Pedro	Martinez		Bruce	Sutter
Dennis	Eckersley		Paul	Molitor		Don	Sutton
Carlton	Fisk		Jack	Morris		Frank	Thomas
Tom	Glavine		Eddie	Murray		Jim	Thome
Goose	Gossage		Mike	Mussina		Alan	Trammell
Ken	Griffey Jr.		Phil	Niekro		Larry	Walker
Vladimir	Guerrero		Tony	Perez		Dick	Williams
Tony	Gwynn		Mike	Piazza		Dave	Winfield
Rickey	Henderson		Kirby	Puckett		Robin	Yount
			Tim	Raines
			Jim	Rice

Grover	Alexander		Reggie	Jackson
Luke	Appling		Fergie	Jenkins
Earl	Averill		Walter	Johnson
Ernie	Banks		Chuck	Klein
Johnny	Bench		Nap	Lajoie
Jim	Bottomley		Joe	Morgan
Lou	Brock		Stan	Musial
Rod	Carew		Brooks	Robinson
Mickey	Cochrane		Frank	Robinson
Joe	Cronin		Tris	Speaker
Bob	Feller		Willie	Stargell
Rollie	Fingers		Bill	Terry
Jimmie	Foxx		Honus	Wagner
Frankie	Frisch		Paul	Waner
Bob	Gibson		Billy	Williams
Goose	Goslin		Ted	Williams
Lefty	Grove		Carl	Yastrzemski
Gabby	Hartnett
Rogers	Hornsby

Past Stars - Group 2

Mark	McGwire		Curt	Schilling
Kevin	Mitchell		Mike	Scioscia
Raul	Mondesi		Gary	Sheffield
Dale	Murphy		Ruben	Sierra
Graig	Nettles		JT	Snow
John	Olerud		Sammy	Sosa
Paul	O'Neill		Dave	Stewart
Magglio	Ordonez		Darryl	Strawberry
Rafael	Palmeiro		Rick	Sutcliffe
Dave	Parker		Danny	Tartabull
Lance	Parrish		Miguel	Tejada
Larry	Parrish		John	Valentin
Lou	Piniella		Fernando	Valenzuela
Darrell	Porter		Andy	Van Slyke
Aramis	Ramirez		Greg	Vaughn
Manny	Ramirez		Mo	Vaughn
Jeff	Reardon		Robin	Ventura
Edgar	Renteria		Omar	Vizquel
Kenny	Rogers		Tim	Wakefield
Scott	Rolen		Tim	Wallach
Bret	Saberhagen		David	Wells
Tim	Salmon		Vernon	Wells
Deion	Sanders		Lou	Whitaker
Benito	Santiago		Frank	White
Steve	Sax		Bernie	Williams
			Matt	Williams
			Willie	Wilson
			Don	Zimmer

Current/Recent Stars - Group 3

Jose	Abreu		Robinson	Cano
Ronald	Acuna Jr.		Matt	Carpenter
Ozzie	Albies		Starlin	Castro
Jose	Altuve		Matt	Chapman
Elvis	Andrus		Willson	Contreras
Chris	Archer		Carlos	Correa
Nolan	Arenado		Nelson	Cruz
Jake	Arrieta		Yu	Darvish
Josh	Bell		Khris	Davis
Cody	Bellinger		Jacob	deGrom
Andrew	Benintendi		Ian	Desmond
Mookie	Betts		Josh	Donaldson
Charlie	Blackmon		Jacoby	Ellsbury
Michael	Brantley		Freddie	Freeman
Alex	Bregman

Joey	Gallo	Kyle	Schwarber
Paul	Goldschmidt	Chris	Sale
Didi	Gregorius	Carlos	Santana
Zach	Greinke	Max	Scherzer
Bryce	Harper	Jean	Segura
Felix	Hernandez	Luis	Severino
Jason	Heyward	Andrelton	Simmons
Aaron	Judge	George	Springer
Clayton	Kershaw	Giancarlo	Stanton
Dallas	Keuchel	Trevor	Story
Cory	Kluber	Stephen	Strasburg
Jon	Lester	Dansby	Swanson
Francisco	Lindor	Ichiro	Suzuki
Evan	Longoria	Noah	Syndergaard
Manny	Machado	Masahiro	Tanaka
Trey	Mancini	Troy	Tulowitzki
JD	Martinez	Justin	Turner
Andrew	McCutchen	Trea	Turner
Yadier	Molina	Justin	Upton
Matt	Olson	Joey	Votto
Salvador	Perez	Adam	Wainwright
Tommy	Pham	Christian	Yelich
Buster	Posey
David	Price
Jose	Ramirez

Chico, Tino, Torey, and Ty: Donruss Names Series Part 4

Back for another installment of the Donruss Names Series. This series takes advantage of the fact that Donruss printed the player's full name on the back of their cards from 1981 to 1992. So far, this is what we've seen:

Part 1: Famous players who went by their middle name
Part 2: Players who you thought had a nickname, but their nickname was their real name
Part 3: Players with unique first names

Part 4 is another set of players with unique first names. There are some surprises here from a few all-star caliber players, along with some names I've never heard of before or since. Again, we'll proceed in what I arbitrarily deem to be reverse uniqueness order.

7) Torey Lovullo

1989 Donruss The Rookies #17 Torey Lovullo

The current manager of the Diamondbacks goes by a derivation of his first name, but instead of Sal, he opted for Torey.

6) Tino Martinez

1992 Donruss #410, Tino Martinez

His given name just doesn't have the same ring to it as Tino Martinez. 

5) Danny Tartabull

1990 Donruss #322, Danny Tartabull

There's currently a Brazilian soccer player named Danilo apparently who might be really popular. I'm not sure as soccer does not hold my interest. Danilo Gallinari is a solid NBA player from Italy. Danny Tartabull's parents are of Cuban heritage. His father, Jose, played 9 seasons in MLB.

4) Al Leiter

1990 Donruss #543, Al Leiter

The most famous Alois was probably Hitler's dad. With that in mind, Al was a very good choice. I might have even gone with Lois before Alois.  

3) Toby Harrah

1986 Donruss #159, Toby Harrah

When I typed in Colbert first name on Google to try to find the most famous Colbert, I just got a bunch of results for Stephen Colbert so I gave up. So let's call Toby Harrah the most famous Colbert.

2) Chico Walker

1992 Donruss #439, Chico Walker

Cleotha Staples, a female soul and gospel singer, is probably the most famous Cleotha. Chico was a good choice for Mr. Walker.

1) Ty Gainey

1986 Donruss #31, Ty Gainey

Tyler? Tyrus? Tyrone? Nope.

I couldn't find anyone else named Telmanch. Anyone. In fact, searching for that name brings up pretty much exclusively results of Ty Gainey, with the exception of what looked like a German site for one of the results. I typed in Telmanch in the German to English translator and struck out there, so this first name wins the uniqueness title in my book. 

It's Not What You Think! - (Donruss Names Series - Part 3)

Welcome to part three of the Donruss Names Series, where we find buried treasure on the backs of Donruss baseball cards from 1981 to 1992. In part one, we looked at some famous players who actually went by their middle name during their playing career. In part two, we learned that some guys we thought went by a nickname, really didn't. The nickname was the name!

Today's installment looks at players who have a unique first name. We'll look at what one would think their first name would be based on the name they went by, then we'll reveal their actual first name. Again, we'll go in reverse uniqueness order. We have a nine player lineup, and though I didn't plan it this way, it looks like we'd have every position covered except pitcher.

9. Thad Bosley

Most probable first name: Thaddeus. Some unintentional Sportflix-like 3-D action going on with this card.

It seems that Thaddis is basically the same as Thaddeus. Just a spelling variation.

8. Bobby Brown

Most probable first name: Robert, Roberto

Bobby shares his given name with that of Hall of Fame second baseman Rogers Hornsby, who bears his mother's maiden name as his first name. So you'd think it would have been kind of cool to go by Rogers since you're a major league baseball player. But if he wants to go by Bobby Brown, I guess that's his prerogative. 

7. Al Bumbry

Most probable first name: Albert, Alan, Alonzo

6. Bert Campaneris

Most probable first name: Albert

That's just an incredibly cool name. There's nothing else that can be said.

5. Mike Hargrove*

Most probable first name: Michael

Would going by Dudley have helped or hurt the Indians in the '95 and '97 World Series? One of history's mysteries.

4. Lee Lacy

Most probable first name: Lee, Leon, Leslie

The most famous Leondaus in history? Probably Lee Lacy.

3. Butch Hobson

Most probable first name: Henry? George?

History's most famous Clell? That would be outlaw Clell Miller, who was killed by a bunch of townspeople during a robbery attempt, had his body exhumed the night after he was buried, was shipped to a med school in Michigan, and was taken by a med student who became a doctor. The doctor, Henry Wheeler, kept Miller's skeleton displayed in his office until his own death. What does this have to do with Clell "Butch" Hobson? Basically nothing, but it's a crazy story. Thanks Wikipedia for your poorly sourced article! Who knows if it's even true!

2. Chris Chambliss

Most probable first name: Christopher

Most famous Carroll? Carroll O'Connor, who played Archie Bunker on All in the Family.

1. Gene Tenace*

Most probable first name: Eugene

Fury was likely chosen because Wrath and Rage were already taken by the couple with the twin boys who lived down the block from the Tenace family.

Thanks for sticking around for round three of the Donruss Names Series. Hope you enjoyed it! 

*(Incidentally, I found out after forming the idea for this post that Hargrove and Tenace were first made known to the card blogging world by Night Owl's research many moons ago. His post is definitely worth a look.)